Trump says envoys taking plan to 'end the war' to Moscow, Kyiv

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Friday that he was sending envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Moscow and Kyiv with a plan to end the four-year-old Ukraine war.

It will be the first time that Trump’s son-in-law Kushner and businessman friend Witkoff have visited war-torn Kyiv since Trump returned to office last year with a vow to solve the conflict.

Both US envoys have previously visited Moscow, leading to accusations that they have taken Russia’s side in negotiations.

“They’re bringing with them a proposal to end the war,” Trump told reporters when asked about the trip.

Trump would not say whether the plan involved Ukraine ceding territory as he has previously suggested but added: “We have an idea for peace.”

“I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators. They’ve done a great job, and we sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done. And there may be a good chance that we’ll do it,” he said.

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The US leader blamed the war that began with Russia invading Ukraine in February 2022 on a “personality problem” between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky earlier said he had proposed observing a ceasefire with Russia while the US envoys visit Moscow and Kyiv.

“There will be no airstrikes on our part, and Russia must reciprocally ensure a ceasefire – without its own airstrikes – for the duration needed to conduct these talks,” Zelensky said in his evening address.

A senior Ukrainian official told AFP the two envoys would visit Kyiv on Sunday. The Kremlin declined to comment on the matter.

A report in the US news outlet Axios said Kushner and Witkoff would travel on Friday, meet Putin at the Kremlin on Saturday, and then Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday.

The two men have also been involved in negotiations for ceasefires in Gaza and Iran.

Trump meanwhile played down Germany’s move earlier this week to blame Russia for an attempted drone attack on an airport.

“I speak to him. I know him very well. Putin’s not looking to attack NATO territory,” Trump said in the Oval Office when an AFP reporter asked him about the German allegation.

Trump has long been skeptical about maintaining support for Ukraine and had a televised row with Zelensky in the Oval Office in February 2025. With Putin, he has veered between friendliness and frustration.

The US leader said on Thursday that he would ask Europeans to repay the American aid provided to Ukraine under the administration of his predecessor Joe Biden.

Trump has long demanded that Europeans shoulder more of the cost of Western support for Ukraine.